Key bolt



April 7, 1931. L 1,799,404

I I KEY BOLT Filed 1, 1927 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PAT-E 01F F I CE ,.FRANK B. BELL, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA KEY 130m! Application filed August 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,725.

The invention relates in general to key bolts and has particular reference to a keybolt of the type comprising a bolt and a keyadapted to be driven through a slotted portion of the bolt and to engage and be bent by an ofiset portion of the bolt into locked engagement inthe slotted portion to provide an automatic self-locking key. My invention contemplates a construction wherein the key is sufficiently rugged and adapted to support heavy elements in engaged position on the shank of the bolt.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a self-locking key-boltconstruc tion in which the parts are of simple and inexpensive, yet rugged construction and are adapted to sustain relatively heavy loads without shearing 01f.

, Another important object ofthe invention is the provision of a key-bolt construction inthe slot of eluding a slotted bolt shank, which is arranged to receive and to deform the key as the latter is forced into position in order to lock the key in engaged position.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a bolt and a key adapted to lock itself in engaged position and in the bolt as it is driven through a slotted portion of the bolt shank. V

Still another important object of the invention is the provision of a key-bolt construction comprising a bolt having a slotted shank and a key comprising a rectangular strip adapted for assembly through the slot-' ted bolt shank and to lie in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the boltshank and be deformed thereby as it is arranged in assembled. position, in order to provide for automatically locking the bolt in place.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as itis better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection wtih the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key-bolt, parts of which are shown in section to illustrate the details of construction of the slotted portlon;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2'-2' in Fig. 1'; y i Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a key for use in conjunction with-the key-bolte mbody' ingmy invention; and

F ig. 4: is a perspective view of the key-bolt and key in assembled position in the bolt. v

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawings a bolt comprising a shank ll'and a head 12. A rectangular slot or aperture 13, having upperand lower-sides 14 and15 lying in planes normal to the longitudin'al axis of the bolt, is formed through the shankll adjacent ;the lower end and forms a reotan'gular opening 16 at one side of the bolt, the lateral sides 17 of the slot lying in planes substantially parallel with the longi tudinal axis of the'bolt. i

The slot 13compr1ses two-parts, l8 and 22, w v ly1ngad]acently between the upper and lower.

bothslot portions 18 and 22 are aligned on the near side of the bolt and together form a rectangular entrance 16 to the slot. The slot portion 22 is relatively narrow, when compared with the slot portion 18, and comprises a curved passage through the bolt shank, the

parts of the slot portion 22, adjacent the en trance 16 of the slot,.being arranged parallel! and in alignment with the main slot portion 18, and the rema nder belng'o'lfset therefrom commencing at a'point 25 in the interior of" the shank 11 and forming a shoulder 26 With-:

' in the bolt. From the'p-oint 25, the slot portion 22 extends in. an angular direction and intersects thesur'face of the bolt to form a rectangular opening out of alignment with the opening 19'of the main slotportion 18 and displaced therefrom around the bolt shank.

A. key, adapted to engage in theslot 13, is provided and comprises a rectangular strip of iron 31, or other convenient key material" of 'suflicienti length to extend'through the shank of the bolt and to protrude" a substanwith the axis ofthe shank, it will be apparent formed therein, parallel with the sides 32 and extending from one end of the key to adjacent the other and terminating at an enlarged aperture 34 in the body of the key. This slot divides the lower portions of the key into two prong portions 35 and 36, the widths of which correspond. with the widths, respectively, of theslot portions 18 and 22.

The key 141- is adapted to be driven into the slot 13, through the main opening 16, the portion 35 engaging in the slot portion 18 and the portion 36, engaging in the slot portion 22. As the key is forced into the slot, the end 37 of the prong portion 36 engages the shoulder 26, formed in the bolt by the displacement of the slot portion 22, and is forced through the offset part of theslot portion 22. The porion 36 is thus deformed or curled to con form with the shape of the offset slot portion as the key is driven into the slot; and the key assumes a final position, as shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawing, when in fully-engagedposition.

It will be manifest that this construction provides a self-locking key which may be engaged in aslotted bolt simply by driving it into engaged position in the slot, and which, when in final engaged position, cannot be displaced from the bolt without laboriously rebending the key. Since the key is arranged inthe boltshank with its longer sides parallel that the key presents maximum resistance to downward pressures exerted upon its upper edge 32 from the direction of the bolt head 12 and thus provides a key construction having maximum strength. The construction described has great simplicity and strength, the cost of manufacture of the parts is correspondingly low, and, at the same time, a satisfactory self-locking key-bolt is provided.

It. is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatma-ny changes may he. j made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim I I 1. In combination, a bolt having a slot extending transversely of it for receiving a key, said slot being divided intotwo parts arranged side by side axially of the bolt and diverted through said ofiset exit of said slot.

3. The combination of a bolt having a generally rectangular slot through it, an adjacent slot part having an offset exit, and a key of rectangular cross section arrangeable through the main and adjacent slot parts, said key being slit to permit a portion of it to be diverted through said offset exit of said slot with the remainder of the key. extending in undeformed condition through the main portion of said slot.

' FRANK B. BELL. 

